Mystery Over Madagascan Lemur Found In Tooting

A Madagascan lemur has been found in Tooting Common, suffering from hypothermia.

Image: Blue Cross Animal Hospital

Lemurs are usually found in the tropical island of Madagascar, so staff at Blue Cross Animal Hospital in Victoria are baffled as to how the ring-tailed primate got to the park in South East London.

The primate, who has been named King Julien after the character in the animated film Madagascar, had collapsed in the freezing conditions, suffering from hypothermia, severe dehydration and shock.

Mark Bossley, chief vet at the animal hospital, said: "We were very concerned about King Julien's health as he was very cold, scared and didn't want to eat. But our nurses managed to coax him into taking some drops of honey from a syringe, then he gradually started eating bits of banana and grapes.

"We mainly treat cats and dogs at the Blue Cross but we do get the odd snake or tortoise, and we have been known to treat chickens, goats and even possums. But this has got to be the most unusual animal we've ever taken in. How a ring-tailed lemur turned up in Tooting Common, I'll never know."

The lemur is now on the road to recovery and strong enough to leave the hospital. He will now be transferred to the Specialist Wildlife Services who will try to rehome him.

King Julien is the same breed as the lemur which visited Steve Allen in the LBC studio last year.